Reger, Bill

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Shin Splints

As the spring season heats up, so will the occurrences of shin splints. Shin splints is basically a catch-all term used to describe a lower leg pain resulting from a possible overuse scenario. This can include but is not limited to stress fractures, stress reactions, tendinitis, and compartment syndrome

Be sure to attack this condition early before it affects your performance. Pre-practice stretching, post practice icing, and general strengthening of the Tibialis muscle can help ease the pain when it occurs.

The ways to ice an affected area are many, but these are the best in order.

ICE MASSAGE – frozen paper cups of water are rubbed on the affected area for 7-10 minutes.

Another great way to ease the pain is to eliminate the cause. Often shin splints are caused by improper footwear or the lack of a supportive arch on the insole. Getting a pair of sport gel insoles for your running shoes from a local pharmacy can often solve the problem in a few weeks. More severe cases may need podiatric consultation and custom orthotics.

Untreated shin splints can often lead to a stress fracture, a condition that can prevent you from competing for up to 3 months.